Exploring the oral microbiome: from traditional techniques to advanced omics and databases

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Genomics
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• The oral microbiome is a complex community of microbes in the mouth.
• Understanding its composition and function is vital for oral health.
• Traditional methods have limitations in comprehensively analyzing this ecosystem.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of molecular and omics tools for oral microbiome research.
• To highlight the utility of 16S and 18S rRNA sequencing.
• To introduce relevant databases for oral microbiome data.

Main Methods:

• 16S and 18S rRNA gene sequencing for bacterial and fungal/protist analysis.
• Omics technologies (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) for large-scale molecular profiling.
• Utilizing curated databases like HOMD and OMD for data exploration.

Main Results:

• 16S rRNA sequencing reveals bacterial species composition and aids in pathogen detection (e.g., caries, periodontal disease).
• 18S rRNA sequencing identifies fungal and protist members, crucial for detecting parasitic infections.
• Omics tools offer a holistic view of microbial composition, function, and interactions.

Conclusions:

• Molecular and omics approaches have revolutionized oral microbiome research.
• These tools are essential for understanding microbial diversity, function, and role in oral diseases.
• Databases provide valuable resources for continued exploration of the oral microbiome.